How to Fix the Arm on an Overstuffed Rocking Chair

Take close-up photographs of the arm of the chair showing any seams and attachment places. Some overstuffed arms have seams at each outside corner, while others have a rolled top with the attachment under the outside roll. Usually you will have fabric covering the outside from the arm to the bottom of the chair.

Remove the side of the arm cover if the repair is lower in the arm. Remove the top of the arm cover if the damage is at the top. Use a seam ripper to open the seams. Pry up staples, tacks, tack strips and ply grip using a flat head screwdriver, claw hammer and pliers. Try to keep the cover in good shape if you intend to use it again. Take photographs as you remove each piece so you see how each piece is attached.

Lift the stuffing. It may be stapled or glued. Remove any fasteners first and try to lift the stuffing as a single piece even if it is in layers. Expose the framing of the chair arm. Look for the damaged or loose framing piece.

Tighten any loose joints or split wood sections. Glue wood sections together using carpenter's glue and wood clamps. Line up a metal brace on either side of a wood break or loose joint. Drill pilot holes through the brace holes. Screw the brace to the wood. If your arm has simply lost fasteners, replace the missing screws with fatter wood screws.

Allow four hours for the glue to dry. Test the arm of the chair by sitting in the chair and resting your arm on the armrest. If the arm is secure, replace the batting, foam or stuffing using similar attachments as those you removed earlier. Check your photos for tips. Attach the cover with tack strips or ply grip, tacks or staples.

Tuck fabric together along former seams. Use matching needle and thread and hand sew a crossover stitch along the old seam using small, neat stitches.